Air blower

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an air blower relating to a cleaning device. The air blower includes an elastic ball body provided with a nozzle hole and a check hole, a nozzle disposed in the nozzle hole, and a check valve disposed in the check hole. A check portion of the nozzle is disposed into the elastic ball body and is tightly connected with the edge of the nozzle hole. The check portion is provided therein with a stopping assembly for blocking or opening the nozzle hole. With the stopping assembly provided at the nozzle hole, the nozzle hole is opened when the airflow within the elastic ball body is ejected out and closed when the external air enters the elastic ball body. In this way, the external air can be prevented from entering the air blower through the nozzle efficiently.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cleaning device, in particular to an air blower for cleaning dust.

2. Description of Prior Art

An air blower is often used to blow away the dust in a camera, on a surface of a precise instrument or a lens, or in gaps of a keyboard.

A conventional air blower includes an elastic ball body for receiving air, a nozzle and a check valve. The nozzle and the check valve are provided on two open holes of the elastic ball body respectively. When the elastic ball body is rapidly pressed by a user, the check valve blocks one of the two open holes, so that the airflow can be only allowed to pass through the other open hole to blow away the dust.

Such an air blower has to be rapidly pressed by the user to generate airflow of sufficient pressure. Thus, the hand of the user may feel ache after pressing the elastic ball body for a period of time. On the other hand, the speed of pressing the elastic ball body is limited, so that it is impossible to generate a pressurized airflow strong enough to blow away the dust completely. Furthermore, when the force of pressing the elastic ball body is released, the pressure of external air is larger than that within the elastic ball body, so that the check valve is opened by the external air and thus the external air enters the elastic ball body again. However, the nozzle is not provided with any means for preventing against the entrance of external air. Thus, a portion of external air enters the elastic ball body through the nozzle. As a result, the dust just blown away may be sucked into the elastic ball body to jam the nozzle. Further, the dust sucked in the nozzle may be blown out of the nozzle in the subsequent use to fall on the camera, the precise instrument, the lens or the keyboard.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, it is necessary to provide an air blower capable of preventing against the entrance of external airflow through a nozzle thereof.

The present invention discloses an air blower including an elastic ball body provided with a nozzle hole and a check hole, a nozzle disposed in the nozzle hole, and a check valve disposed in the check hole. A check portion of the nozzle is disposed into the elastic ball body and is tightly connected with the edge of the nozzle hole. The check portion is provided therein with a stopping assembly for blocking or opening the nozzle hole.

With the stopping assembly provided at the nozzle hole, the nozzle hole is opened when the airflow within the elastic ball body is ejected out and closed when the external air enters the elastic ball body. In this way, the external air can be prevented from entering the air blower through the nozzle efficiently.

Preferably, the stopping assembly includes a sealing pad, a magnetic ring and a gasket. The gasket is made of iron or steel. The magnetic ring is sheathed outside the sealing pad and tightly connected with the gasket.

Preferably, an inner wall of the check portion is provided with ribs protruding toward a post-like space enclosed by the check portion. The sealing pad and the magnetic ring are disposed in the post-like space and positioned by the ribs in the middle of the post-like space. The sealing pad is in interference fit with the inner wall of the check portion to be fixed at an opening of the nozzle in communication with the elastic ball body.

Preferably, the number of the ribs is at least three.

Preferably, the sealing pad includes a sealing surface, a hook and a cylinder connected between the sealing surface and the hook. The magnetic ring is sheathed on the cylinder and fixed between the sealing surface and the hook. The hook abuts against the edge of an inner hole of the gasket.

Preferably, the rib is provided with a stepped portion for stopping the sealing surface. A distance is formed between the sealing surface and the stepped portion when the magnetic ring is connected with the gasket.

With the connection or disconnection between the sealing pad and the gasket, the nozzle hole can be opened or closed. Further, by overcoming the connecting force generated between the magnetic ring and the gasket, a stronger airflow can be generated.

Preferably, a periphery of the nozzle is provided with an annular slot. The nozzle hole is in interference fit with the annular slot.

Preferably, the check valve includes a valve body. The periphery of the valve body is in interference fit with the edge of the check hole, so that the connecting portion between the valve body and the check hole is kept airtight.

Preferably, the check valve further includes a check piece. The valve body is provided with an upper stepped portion and a lower stepped portion. The check piece is located between the upper stepped portion and the lower stepped portion.

Preferably, the check valve includes a valve body and a check piece integrally formed together. The interior of the valve body is formed into a hollow channel. The check piece is made of an elastic material. The check piece covers one end of the channel and is elastically connected with the valve body through an elastic connecting portion thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an air blower according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the air blower according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a check valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view showing the check valve according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the check valve along the line A-A in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a nozzle from another viewing angle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The detailed description and technical contents of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the drawings are illustrative only, but not used to limit the present invention.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which is an exploded perspective view showing an air blower of the present invention. The air blower includes an elastic ball body 100 provided with a nozzle hole 110 and a check hole 120 (as shown in FIG. 2), a nozzle 200 provided in the nozzle hole 110, and a check valve 300 provided in the check hole 120. A check portion 210 of the nozzle 200 is disposed into the elastic ball body 100 and tightly connected with the edge of the nozzle hole 110. The interior of the check portion 210 is provided with a stopping assembly 400 for blocking or opening the nozzle hole 110.

The elastic ball body 100 generally has an elastic plastic casing. The nozzle hole 110 and the check hole 120 are provided on two opposite ends of the elastic ball body 100.

The nozzle 200 is provided with an annular slot 220. The check portion 210 is disposed into the elastic ball body 100 through the nozzle hole 110 in such a manner that the annular slot 220 is in interference fit with the nozzle hole 110. In this way, the connecting portion between the nozzle 200 and the elastic ball body 100 is airtight. The inner wall of the check portion 210 is provided with ribs 212 as shown in FIG. 6. The ribs 212 protrude toward a post-like space enclosed by the check portion 210. Preferably, the number of the ribs 212 is at least three. Further, each of the ribs 212 is provided with a stepped portion 211.

The check valve 300 includes a valve body 310 and a check piece 320. The periphery of the valve body 310 is in interference fit with the edge of the check hole 120, so that the connecting portion there between is airtight. The interior of the valve body 310 is provided with stopping ribs 313. Preferably, the number of the stopping ribs 313 is at least three. The check piece 320 is located in the stopping ribs 313 and movable between an upper stepped portion 311 and a lower stepped portion 312 (as shown in FIG. 2).

The stopping assembly 400 includes a sealing pad 410, a magnetic ring 420 and a gasket 430. The gasket 430 is made of iron or steel. The magnetic ring 420 is sheathed outside the sealing pad 410 and is tightly connected with the gasket 430.

The sealing pad 410 includes a sealing surface 411, a hook 412 and a cylinder 413 connected between the sealing surface 411 and the hook 412. The magnetic ring 420 is sheathed on the cylinder 413 and fixed between the sealing surface 411 and the hook 412. The hook 412 abuts against the edge of an inner hole 431 of the gasket 430.

The sealing pad 410 and the magnetic ring 420 are disposed in the post-like space enclosed by the check portion 210 and located in the middle of the post-like space by the ribs 212. The stepped portion 211 of the rib 212 is configured to the stop the sealing surface 411. When the magnetic ring 420 is tightly connected with the gasket 430, the sealing surface 411 is separated from the stepped portion 211 by a predetermined distance. The gasket 439 is in interference fit with the inner wall of the check portion 210 and fixed at an opening of the nozzle 200 in communication with the elastic ball body 100.

Next, the operation of the air blower of the present embodiment will be described.

When an external force is exerted on the elastic ball body 100, since the space within the elastic ball body 100 is compressed, the internal pressure of the elastic ball body 100 is increased. When the internal pressure of the elastic ball body 100 is increased continuously to such an extent that the force exerted on the sealing surface 411 exceeds the connecting force between the magnetic ring 420 and the gasket 430, the sealing pad 410 together with the magnetic ring 420 are forced to be separated from each other. At this time, the sealing surface 411 is stopped by the stepped portions 211, so that the airflow can flow through the gaps between the ribs 212 and then flow to the outside of the nozzle 200. When the elastic ball body 100 is pressed, since the internal pressure of the elastic ball body 100 is larger than the external pressure, the check piece 320 of the check valve 300 is pressed by the internal airflow to the lower stepped portion 312, thereby sealing the check hole 120 and preventing the air from leaking through the check hole 120. The airflow generated by the air blower of the present embodiment is stronger than that generated by a conventional air blower, so that a better cleaning effect can be achieved by the present invention.

After the external force for pressing the elastic ball body 100 is released, the casing of the elastic ball body 100 returns to its original shape by means of its elastic restoring force. At this time, since the internal space is increased, the air within the elastic ball body 100 is diluted and the internal pressure is decreased. Thus, the external air pushes the sealing pad 410 and the check piece 320 toward the interior of the elastic ball body 100. With the magnetic attracting force between the magnetic ring 420 and the gasket 430, the sealing pad 410 and the gasket 430 can be tightly connected to each other again after the internal pressure of the elastic ball body 100 is decreased to a predetermined level, thereby closing the nozzle hole 110 without waiting for the release of the external force. Thus, the entrance of external air into the elastic ball body 100 can be prevented effectively.

In the previous embodiment, the check valve 300 is configured to have a separated check piece 310 and the valve body 320. As shown in FIG. 3, the check valve 300 includes a valve body 340 and a check piece 330 integrally formed with each other. The interior of the valve body 34 is a hollow channel as shown in FIG. 5. The check piece 330 is made of an elastic material. The check piece 330 covers one end of the channel and is elastically connected to the valve body 340 by means of a connecting portion 350 thereof.

As shown in FIG. 4, it is a top view showing the check valve 300 of the present embodiment. The diameter of the check piece 330 is slightly larger than that of the channel inside the valve body 340. One end of the valve body 340 covers the channel and is connected to the valve body 340 through the connecting portion 350.

As shown in FIG. 5, it is a cross-sectional view of the check valve 300 along the line A-A in FIG. 4. Since the check piece 330 and the connecting portion 350 are made of elastic materials, the channel inside the valve body 340 can be opened or closed easily. When the elastic ball body 100 is pressed, the internal pressure of the elastic ball body 100 is larger than the external pressure. Since the diameter of the check piece 330 is larger, the check piece 330 is pushed to block the channel. When the elastic ball body 100 returns to its original shape and the internal pressure is decreased, the check piece 330 is pushed from the outside to open the channel. In this way, the airflow can enter the elastic ball body 100 through the channel.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the foregoing preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof.

Various equivalent variations and modifications can still occur to those skilled in this art in view of the teachings of the present invention. Thus, all such variations and equivalent modifications are also embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. An air blower including an elastic ball body provided with a nozzle hole and a check hole, a nozzle disposed in the nozzle hole, and a check valve disposed in the check hole, a check portion of the nozzle being disposed into the elastic ball body and tightly connected with the edge of the nozzle hole, wherein the check portion is provided therein with a stopping assembly for blocking or opening the nozzle hole.
 2. The air blower according to claim 1, wherein the stopping assembly includes a sealing pad, a magnetic ring and a gasket, the gasket is made of iron or steel, the magnetic ring is sheathed outside the sealing pad and tightly connected with the gasket.
 3. The air blower according to claim 2, wherein an inner wall of the check portion is provided with ribs protruding toward a post-like space enclosed by the check portion, the sealing pad and the magnetic ring are disposed in the post-like space and positioned by the ribs in the middle of the post-like space, the sealing pad is in interference fit with the inner wall of the check portion to be fixed at an opening of the nozzle in communication with the elastic ball body.
 4. The air blower according to claim 3, wherein the number of the ribs is at least three.
 5. The air blower according to claim 3, wherein the sealing pad includes a sealing surface, a hook and a cylinder connected between the sealing surface and the hook, the magnetic ring is sheathed on the cylinder and fixed between the sealing surface and the hook, the hook abuts against the edge of an inner hole of the gasket.
 6. The air blower according to claim 5, wherein the rib is provided with a stepped portion for stopping the sealing surface, a distance is formed between the sealing surface and the stepped portion when the magnetic ring is connected with the gasket.
 7. The air blower according to claim 1, wherein a periphery of the nozzle is provided with an annular slot, the nozzle hole is in interference fit with the annular slot.
 8. The air blower according to claim 1, wherein the check valve includes a valve body, a periphery of the valve body is in interference fit with the edge of the check hole, so that the connecting portion between the valve body and the check hole is kept airtight.
 9. The air blower according to claim 8, wherein the check valve further includes a check piece, the valve body is provided with an upper stepped portion and a lower stepped portion, the check piece is located between the upper stepped portion and the lower stepped portion.
 10. The air blower according to claim 1, wherein the check valve includes a valve body and a check piece integrally formed together, the interior of the valve body is formed into a hollow channel, the check piece is made of an elastic material, the check piece covers one end of the channel and is elastically connected with the valve body through an elastic connecting portion thereof. 